Everyone in the room settled down, and watched the screen anxiously as the book's title vanished. This information was supposed to help them somehow, but how it would do so was still unclear to most.
The scene opens to show the final chapter of a web novel titled "Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse".
There are three ways to survive the apocalypse. Everything is fading and becoming unclear now. But one thing is certain. If you're reading this, you will survive.
-The End-
[Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse - Final Episode]
TLS123
"Huh…?"
A man stares down at the phone in his hand as a popup confirms that this really is the final episode. No matter how much he tries swiping to find more text hidden somewhere, it really is the end.
"Really? Is that it?"
As he sits in the crowded subway cabin, he looks up from his phone and seems to almost stare at everyone through the screen as a short flashback triggers.
Kim Dokja froze as he processed that it was himself on the screen. Why? What was going on?
"Dokja-ssi," Yoo Sangah whispered quietly, "could this, by any chance, be our commute home when the first scenario began?"
Kim Dokja nodded wordlessly, and he tried to ignore Yoo Joonghyuk's piercing gaze on the side of his head. Whatever being caused this not only revealed the existence of TWSA, but also decided to focus on him for whatever reason (which made no sense to him—why focus on boring, plain Kim Dokja when a protagonist like Yoo Joonghyuk exists?)
[Many constellations are surprised by the appearance of incarnation 'Kim Dokja' on the screen.]
He clenched his hands into fists and tried to brace himself for reliving the first scenario all over again. Sure, he had the Fourth Wall to help him, but that wouldn't be the same for Yoo Sangah, Lee Gilyoung, or any of the other people collectively traumatized by the brutality of the first main scenario. This wasn't going to be pleasant. Then again, nothing about their current world ever was.
I'm Dokja. This is how I introduce myself to others. And nine times out of ten, people misunderstand me.
"Oh, so you're an only child?"
"Well, yes, but that's not what I meant."
"Oh… then what did you mean?"
"It's my name. Kim Dokja."
My father gave me that name because he wanted me to grow up to be a strong and independent person. But perhaps my name is a curse… because I've been lonely and single my entire life. This is who I am in a nutshell.
There was no way. Kim Dokja's face was pale as his own voice seemed to narrate whatever sick show was being put on by the universe.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious about incarnation 'Kim Dokja'.]
"How…?" Kim Dokja said in a breathy, trembling voice. Jung Heewon glanced over at him, concerned.
Lee Hyunsung placed a hand on his shoulder. "Dokja-ssi, are you okay?"
He took a deep breath and tried to plaster on a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Totally fine. It's not like my own thoughts are being broadcasted, or anything."
Yoo Sangah frowns. "That seems like a large invasion of Dokja-ssi's privacy…"
For some reason, Yoo Joonghyuk's brow furrowed and he seemed to pay more attention to the screen. Kim Dokja was confused. What reason would the protagonist have for being interested in whatever thoughts went through his head?
Almost like an introduction for a character in a story, a quick biography appears on the screen.
Kim Dokja (28): Graduated from a third rate college and is currently employed as a contractor at a subsidiary of a large corporation.
My hobby is reading serialized webnovels on the subway on my way home from work.
Dokja looks back down at his phone intently as something seems to draw his attention.
But today's subway ride was unlike any other.
A woman's voice cuts through his focus, light and gentle. "Oh, my. At this rate, you might get sucked into your phone."
Looking up, Dokja sees a familiar woman with long chestnut hair smiling down at him.
'Yoo Sangah from HR?' he thinks before hurrying to reply to her.
"Sangah-ssi!" Jung Heewon exclaimed, turning to her. "I didn't know the two of you were coworkers before the apocalypse."
"Ah, yes, well… things like that aren't really as important nowadays," Yoo Sangah replied with a polite smile. Jung Heewon just laughed good-naturedly.
For his part, Kim Dokja was trying to avoid cringing as his own thoughts were clearly out there for everyone to see and hear. This wasn't good. There really was no privacy, it was like his entire being was being opened up and put on display all over again. He hated it. It felt like having a horde of cameras trained on him, recording his every movement and microphones shoved into his face and asking for his thoughts and—
No. He couldn't think like that. Kim Dokja took a deep breath to steady his mind before the Fourth Wall would do it for him.
At the same time, he thought as he took a glance at Yoo Joonghyuk's focused face, maybe this was how the protagonist would feel as soon as he realized that Kim Dokja had consumed his story much in the same way.
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is annoyed by the boring conversations on the screen.]
Yeah, well fuck you too. The constellations couldn't let Kim Dokja just have a minor existential crisis in peace, could they? Unfortunately, time (and the show) doesn't wait for anyone, and it continued replaying events without his consent.
"H-hello," he manages to stutter.
"Are you heading home?" she asks politely.
"Yes, you too?"
Sangah smiles and moves to sit down next to him, even as he reflexively flinches away. "Yes, I got lucky. My team manager is away on a business trip."
I can't believe I ran into Sangah, the most popular girl at work. Her shampoo smells really nice…
Lee Jihye barked out a laugh. "Ahjussi, did you seriously just smell her shampoo? You weirdo."
[A constellation who likes harems looks appraisingly at incarnation 'Yoo Sangah'.]
What. Ew, no.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' glares at a constellation who likes harems.]
At least one constellation has some sense. Kim Dokja didn't know much at all about the Secretive Plotter, but at least he could be confident that the guy wasn't a complete asshole.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' does not approve of this companionship.]
With a groan, Kim Dokja buried his face in his hands. Not only was he humiliated by his own unconscious thoughts, but now Uriel was making strange comments, too. After a moment, he looked up at Yoo Sangah with a miserable expression. "Sangah-ssi, I am so sorry. I promise you I didn't mean anything weird by that…"
Yoo Sangah just laughed lightly and waved off his concerns. "Don't worry, Dokja-ssi. You can't help what you think; it's not like you expected everyone to hear it, after all."
As Kim Dokja began slowly recovering from his mortification, Yoo Sangah's smile turned slightly sly. "Besides, if you like it so much, I'll just have to tell you which brand it is so you can use it yourself."
Well, he wouldn't exactly be opposed to it because her hair did always seem to be in good condition, but he would honestly take any shampoo at this point. Or a shower. Or a bucket of water and a bar of soap.
Four scenarios' worth of grime was no joke, and everyone here probably felt more gross than they were willing to admit.
Instead, he just smiled weakly. "Thank you, Sangah-ssi."
Dokja glances at her in slight confusion. "Do you usually take the subway home?"
From the HR assistant manager to the finance team manager, I'll bet there's a line of men waiting to drive her home.
"Actually," Sangah says with a sigh, "someone stole my bicycle."
"You commute to work on a bike?"
"Yes, I've been working a lot of overtime lately, so I thought I could use the exercise," she explains. "And I have some personal reasons too…"
After her words trail off, Sangah shoots Dokja a kind smile.
'Seeing her up close, I get why all the guys are head over heels for her.' Dokja thinks sheepishly.
Well, none of that concerns me. She and I live completely different lives.
And just so you know, Sangah wasn't the reason today's subway ride was different.
Kim Dokja had thought before that he had never been so mortified in his life, but he had been wrong. Han Sooyoung's cackles could be heard across the room as she laughed at him.
Once again, he could feel Yoo Joonghyuk's judging gaze just boring into his temple. It made sense; the man was completely against wasting time and getting distracted in the middle of the apocalypse, but it's not like Kim Dokja was even interested in Yoo Sangah that way in the first place!
Lee Jihye patted his shoulder and nodded sagely. "It's okay, ahjussi. I know you wouldn't just betray Master like that."
Seriously, what was wrong with everyone today? With a sigh, Kim Dokja turned back toward the screen.
"¿Puede prestarme dinero?"
"Pardon?" Dokja asked, confused.
"It's Spanish," Sangah replies cheerfully. "It means 'Please lend me some money'."
Dokja seems astounded as he glances at her. 'Studying on the subway… she's a different breed altogether. Where would she even use that phrase?'
"You're studying hard," Dokja remarks, but is caught off guard when Sangah leans into his space to glance at his phone.
"What about you, Dokja? What are you reading?"
As quickly as he can, he holds the phone out of her view, completely trespassing into the personal space of the stranger sitting on his right. Eventually, he calms and brings his cellphone back to his lap.
"Oh, I'm…"
The text of another apocalypse-genre novel is displayed on the screen.
"Is it a novel?" Sangah asks curiously.
"Yeah," Dokja replies, albeit hesitantly. "I guess you could say that I'm studying Korean, haha…"
At that, Sangah seems to completely light up. "Wow! I love novels! My favourite authors are Murakami Haruki, Raymond Carver, Han Kang, and…"
'Of course,' Dokja thinks, half paralyzed by fear and sudden shame.
"Who's your favourite author, Dokja?"
Dokja chuckles awkwardly. "You probably wouldn't know even if I told you."
'I can never tell her what I'm really reading,' he thinks.
[Constellations who like reading are curious about your tastes in literature.]
"It's okay, hyung!" Lee Gilyoung said, finally feeling well enough to sit up and cling to Kim Dokja's side, lightly tugging on Samyeongdang's robe as he did so. "I won't judge what you're reading no matter what."
From his other side, Shin Yoosung nodded shyly. "Me neither, ahjussi. I know we don't really know each other, but… you can talk to us about your favourite novels."
These kids… Kim Dokja had to restrain the urge to ruffle their hair affectionately. They were both far too pure to go through something like this apocalypse.
"Don't worry," he said, letting a half-fake smile cross his lips. "I'm sure we'll have lots of time to talk about web novels later."
At the very least, Kim Dokja was sure that he would be talking about them in the near future, whether or not he wanted to. After all, as soon as the truth about TWSA comes out, he was sure that he'd get pestered with questions (and maybe a death threat or two from its protagonist).
Yoo Sangah smiled at him. "Maybe you can give me some recommendations, Dokja-ssi. I can't say I've read any web novels before, but I guess that can be something to look forward to once the apocalypse is over!"
"Same here!" Jung Heewon added with a grin. "I'm sure even Hyunsung-ssi would be interested."
The man in question nodded quickly, seeming more like a pleased golden retriever than a muscled army man.
If we survive that long, were the words no one was willing to say out loud.
Honestly, it was hard for Kim Dokja to handle. He wasn't used to people being so nice about his hobby. Even all of Yoo Joonghyuk's glaring was weirdly non-hostile at the moment, and that made Kim Dokja more anxious than if the man was holding a sword to his throat. Or just holding his throat, since that seemed to be equally likely.
That's right. My hobby is reading serialized webnovels on the subway on my way home from work. Although I'm not proud of my hobby, the reason today is unlike any other is because Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse—or TWSA for short—which I've been reading for the past ten years, is ending today.
People might wonder why I'm making such a fuss over the ending of a web novel, but this story in particular is very special to me. I've been reading this series since I was in eighth grade.
I read it when I was bullied at school…
A depressed-looking, beat-up younger boy in a shabby uniform stares at the light of his phone in a dark corner of a school library.
The smile dropped off Jung Heewon's face instantly. "Kim Dokja, if we ever cross paths with any of the bastards who did that to you, leave them to me."
"No, really, it's okay—" Kim Dokja tried to protest, but a glare from all the members of his party silenced him.
Even Yoo Joonghyuk seemed intensely displeased with something as he looked at the image of a younger Kim Dokja on the screen, beaten and bruised. He cast a cursory glance at the Kim Dokja sitting near him, giving him a quick once-over. It was all Kim Dokja could do to avoid shivering under the weight of his gaze. What was all that about?
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is furiously calling for justice.]
[Constellations who like children are frowning.]
However, Yoo Mia was the one to break the silence.
"Ugly ahjussi, why are you so tiny there?"
That caused Kim Dokja to look at her in confusion. "Tiny?"
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' thinks you look flimsy.]
Well, that was rude, even if flimsy wasn't exactly the wrong description of how he had been at the time.
"Need to eat more… fool."
Kim Dokja frowned. Had he just heard Yoo Joonghyuk muttering under his breath? No, that wasn't possible.
... when I failed my entrance exams and ended up at a third-rate college…
The same boy—now older—sits alone on a bench at a university, reading. Everyone else around him is talking with friends, and it's clear he has none.
... when bad luck got me stationed on the front line during my military service…
A man wearing an army uniform with hair cropped short is reading a novel on a computer.
... and even now, as an unstable contract worker getting transferred from company to company… Damn it. What's the point? Anyway… I don't have a single happy memory. It's bittersweet that this fictitious world I've been following for so many years is now coming to an end. Today is the day the epilogue of TWSA will be uploaded.
Looking back at his phone, Dokja muses on the story he loves so much. 'A grand serial consisting of 3149 episodes. A ten-year-long epic journey that began in my late teens and ended in my adulthood.'
I can't believe the series went on for so long with just an average view count of one.
'The first chapter had around 1200 views, but by chapter ten, there were only about 20 views. Then the view count dropped to 12 by chapter 50. And now, I'm the only one reading.'
It was a story written for me and only me.
'I wanted to support the author with a donation, but it was hard enough for me to even make ends meet, so I just thanked the author by writing a comment. I tried recommending the series to others, but they all just criticized me…'
"So, you really did read the whole thing."
Kim Dokja glanced up to see Han Sooyoung, who had walked over to stare at him. Despite her bravado, she made sure to keep away from Yoo Joonghyuk as much as she could. The protagonist was half-glaring at her, and Kim Dokja could honestly say that he had no desire to be in her situation.
"That's right," he replied, trying his best to keep his voice even despite the anxiety gradually welling up inside him. Sooner or later, everything would fall apart. It was like there was an axe hung precariously above his neck, just waiting to drop at the right moment.
Speaking of anxiety, where the heck was the Fourth Wall when he needed it? It hadn't triggered even once in this weird place.
Han Sooyoung gave him a judgmental look. "Honestly, I don't know how you got through that garbage."
Kim Dokja just gave her one right back. "Big words from the author who plagiarized it."
"You—" Han Sooyoung choked out. "My writing is way better than that trash. I didn't plagiarize shit."
With a huff, she unceremoniously plopped down near them, but still just far enough away that she could reasonably say she wasn't part of the group. Maybe she thought that she would be able to get the most information—or gossip—this way.
"Dokja?" Sangah's voice cuts through his thoughts, suddenly making him turn to stare at her.
"Oh, come to think of it, it's already been a year since we started working at the company," Dokja says all of a sudden, internally cursing that he got so into his thoughts that he forgot she was even there. He really needed to change the topic. "We started around this time last year. Time sure flies by, doesn't it?"
Sangah laughs. "Yeah, we had no idea what we were getting into back then."
"Yeah, it seems like it was only yesterday. I can't believe our contracts are ending soon."
Suddenly Sangah's smile drops awkwardly. Oh.
I forgot. Sangah was promoted to full-time employee last month due to her diligence.
"Oh, I…" She says awkwardly, trying to find a way to change the subject.
Panicking, Dokja brings up a hand to rub at the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Ah, that's right. Sorry for the late congratulations. I guess I should have learned a foreign language too."
"No, it's fine, Dokja," Sangah replies almost too quickly, "I haven't completed my performance assessment yet, and…"
I don't want to admit it, but Sangah is so cool. If we were characters in a novel, she would definitely be the heroine. It was obvious. I didn't try, but Sangah gave it her all. I read web novels, while Sangah studied, so it was obvious that she would become a full-time employee and I wouldn't.
Suddenly, she speaks up again. "Um, Dokja?"
"Yes?"
"If you want… I could… tell you the name of the app I use…"
If I were in a different genre… if the genre of my life wasn't non-fiction, but fantasy…
Suddenly, the camera focuses on a boy sitting across the aisle of the train from Dokja. He's holding a bug-catching net and a cage with several grasshoppers inside it, and he doesn't appear to be smiling.
... could I have been the protagonist?
Lee Gilyoung grinned widely. "Hyung, you really noticed me that early?"
"That's right," Kim Dokja replied with a smile. Internally, he was just glad that the young boy spoke up first, not wanting to answer more awkward questions about his thoughts and his conversation with Yoo Sangah.
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' thinks that jobs sound like a waste of time.]
Of course he would.
Yoo Sangah just smiled politely, ignoring the indirect message. "I'm just glad that Dokja-ssi has such a high opinion of me."
Well, it was certainly hard not to, especially after everything that had happened. Yoo Sangah was much more reliable and resilient than he had expected, but maybe part of that came from her HR experience.
"Sangah-ssi is very responsible," he replied, and shot Han Sooyoung a small glare when she groaned. Seriously, what was up with that woman?
The train rattles as it continues its journey, and Sangah calls out to him since he hasn't replied.
"Dokja?"
"It's okay, Sangah."
I don't know. If one thing was certain…
Resigned, Dokja continues his thought. "It wouldn't matter if you told me the name of the app."
it's that the genre of my life is non-fiction. And in this genre, I'm no protagonist. I'm merely a "reader".
"I have to live my own life," he declares, causing Sangah to stare at him for a moment.
"Your own life…" she muses for a moment before brightening up. "You're so inspiring, Dokja."
Confused, he shoots her a quick glance. "Sorry?"
Now, seemingly rejuvenated, Sangah clenches her fists and declares: "I should also live my own life!"
Dokja just seems confused by her words, even as he tries to be supportive.
"Like you, I'll strive to live my life to the fullest!"
'Well,' he thinks, 'at least that got her to stop talking…'
Yoo Sangah looked down, almost as though she had been chastised. Damn. That's not what he meant by that!
"Sangah-ssi, sorry, I just wanted to change the topic," Kim Dokja told her apologetically. She looked back up at him with a weak smile and shook her head.
"No, I should be sorry. I should have realized you were uncomfortable."
Suddenly, his cell phone buzzes with the notification of a new message.
I had no idea back then…
A message from TLS123 pops up on the screen.
- Thank you.
For a moment, Dokja stares at it before the identity of the message's sender clicks in his brain. 'Huh? Is this the author of TWSA?'
... what would happen to me next.
"Wait, you got a message from tls123?" Han Sooyoung asked sharply, looking intently at Kim Dokja. "Do you know anything about their identity?"
Kim Dokja shook his head. "We had a brief conversation, but I haven't heard from them since."
Ignoring the odd looks from everyone around them, Han Sooyoung hummed as she thought for a moment. "Do you think there's a deeper link? Between you getting the message and everything else, I mean."
He narrowed his eyes quickly. Why was she just saying things like that?
"Hey, don't give me that look," she snapped, "it's not like it's going to stay a secret for very long, anyway."
[Some constellations are curious about what you are hiding.]
… She did have a point. Everything was going to come out in front of everyone, whether he wanted it to or not. Kim Dokja sighed as he gave in and replied. "The timing was too convenient for it to be a coincidence. You'll see what I mean in a moment."
Kim Dokja did his best to keep his gaze on the self-proclaimed non-plagiarist just to ignore the way Yoo Joonghyuk was staring suspicious daggers into the back of his head. He couldn't even see the protagonist, and the guy was still terrifying.
It was obvious that Yoo Joonghyuk didn't trust Han Sooyoung, especially after she revealed herself as the First Apostle, but Kim Dokja knew that he probably had to risk collaborating with her here. After him, she was the person who knew the most about TWSA, and if he was going to get absolutely gutted by the protagonist for lying to him, one of her avatars could make for a convenient meat shield in a pinch. Probably. If his reaction time was good enough.
Nervous, he ignored the curious stares from the rest of the group, and looked back up at the screen.
He quickly sends back a message.
- Are you the author of TWSA?
TLS123 replies almost instantly, like the author was waiting for his reply.
- Thanks to you, I was able to finish my story. I also won a prize in a contest.
'What? TWSA was in a contest?' Dokja thinks to himself as he looks intently at his phone.
- Congratulations! But what kind of contest?
- It's not a big contest, so you wouldn't have heard of it.
- Oh, and the series will become paid content soon.
- Starting with the epilogue today, TWSA will become paid content.
- As a token of my gratitude, I would like to send you a special present. Could you tell me your email address?
What was about to happen to this world.
- A present?
- After all, I was able to publish my story thanks to you.
'Wow, TWSA won a contest?' Dokja thinks, musing about how the author probably doesn't want to tell him the name out of embarrassment. 'A present? Is it a gift card? It would be great if it's a $50 gift card.'
Suddenly, a notification pops up on his phone.
[You have one new message.]
'I-it came! The present!' Surprised and excited, Dokja opens the message immediately.
Subject: Thank you for everything
Sender: tls123
Mr. Kim Dokja,
Starting at 7 pm today, TWSA will become paid content. This will help you. I wish you all the best.
He stops reading to think. 'Starting at 7 pm? It's 6:55 right now, so that means I have five minutes left. I'll go into my favourites and… huh?'
TWSA was gone. Dokja wonders if it's normal for series to be removed without any warning as soon as they become paid content, but he can't think any further on it because the lights in the train cabin suddenly go out.
At the mention of 7 pm, Yoo Joonghyuk's frown deepened further, making Kim Dokja feel like whoever created this hidden scenario was trying to get him to dig his own grave. Remembering the strange direct messages from earlier, he wondered if the person in question was Han Sooyoung from the future or a parallel universe, in which case, he wouldn't put it past her.
Considering her apparent dislike of him—which probably had something to do with all the comments he posted on her web novel (SSSSS-grade regressor? He honestly couldn't be bothered to remember) that accused her of plagiarizing TWSA until he finally got blocked—he wouldn't be surprised if she showed up to his funeral with popcorn.
At least the kids and Lee Hyunsung would probably cry over his coffin.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is watching intently.]
"So it really wasn't a coincidence." Han Sooyoung crossed her arms and leaned back a bit before her eyes widened. "Wait, a present? Don't tell me…"
What could he do other than nod? It's not like lying and trying to hide it would be beneficial since the truth would just be revealed in a little while anyway.
She cursed under her breath. "You lucky bitch."
Yoo Joonghyuk's heavy gaze flicked over to her for a moment, and he was just radiating disapproval the entire time. It was only then that Kim Dokja realized that the protagonist had covered his sister's ears, and he had to hold back the urge to laugh.
"Orabeoni," Yoo Mia muttered, her cheeks red, "you know I've heard way worse."
Okay, Kim Dokja had to admit that was kind of cute. Or at least, as cute as a six-foot-tall wall of muscle and angst could get. Not that he would ever say something like that to Yoo Joonghyuk's face, of course. He didn't have a death wish.
Sangah looks up, confused and wondering what could be going on, when suddenly the train screeches to a halt, throwing everyone around. Confused shouts fill the air as people wonder what's happening and if there's been some kind of terrorist attack.
Sangah clutches to Dokja's sleeve as they look around the train cabin apprehensively.
"Sangah, are you okay?" Dokja asks, clearly anxious, but still in a better state than some of the other people around.
She replies quietly and hesitantly. "Y-yes. What do you think is happening?"
"Don't worry," Dokja replies with somewhat faked confidence, "it's probably nothing—"
The clock ticks over from 6:59 to 7:00.
It was by sheer coincidence that I checked the time at that exact moment.
'It's 7 pm, so the paid content…'
Suddenly, a loud announcement over the loudspeaker cuts through the tense atmosphere.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. P-please, evacuate… evacuate..!"
Now a bit more freaked out, Sangah looks around the train cabin nervously. "Dokja, what's going on?"
As Dokja glances towards the front of their cabin and stands to evacuate with his coworker, red sparks flash in the air, menacing and bright. He shades his eyes with one hand and squints in their direction as a loud message crackles to life, seemingly being broadcast both into the air and directly into their heads.
"The free service of the 1612th planetary system has come to an end. The main scenario will begin now."
It was at that moment that the genre of my life changed.
[Many constellations are excited for the beginning of the scenarios.]
It was obvious that everyone in the room was restless, Kim Dokja most of all. His hands trembled slightly and his palms felt sweaty as he anxiously remembered some of his internal comments about charac- no, about people like Lee Hyunsung when he met them. Hyunsung would probably forgive him. Heewon too. They were nice like that.
But Yoo Joonghyuk? Yeah, he was dead. 100%, absolutely, completely dead.
'Bihyung, if you're listening, please divide all my coins between the kids and the rest of the party if I die in the next few hours.'